Q: How much does it cost for a return flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment. Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights typically cost between $282 and $528 in September. The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $240 on Jetstar (4 Sept–11 Sept).

Question 1

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Accepted Answer

Saturday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Wednesday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Question 2

How often are flights from Melbourne to Cairns delayed?

Accepted Answer

About 18% of weekly flights between Melbourne and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 106 minutes.

Question 3

What is the most punctual flight time for Melbourne to Cairns flights?

Accepted Answer

Historically, flights departing at night are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the early afternoon tend to experience delays more often.

Question 4

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Melbourne to Cairns flights?

Accepted Answer

Over the past year, Qantas Airways have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 12% of flights being delayed.

Question 5

How much does it cost for a return flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights typically cost between $282 and $528 in September.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $240 on Jetstar (4 Sept–11 Sept).

Question 6

How long is the flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Airlines like Jetstar fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in about 3h 20m. The time it takes to get you to your destination is usually consistent. The distance between Melbourne Airport and Cairns is about 2311 km. Most flights are nonstop.

Question 7

What are the cheapest airlines flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns round-trip?

Accepted Answer

Our cheapest airline available from Melbourne Airport to Cairns is Jetstar. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $126 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, starting at $164 and $215 round-trip. Jetstar is priced at 60% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

Question 8

What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns one-way?

Accepted Answer

$106 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Jetstar. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, with prices starting from $133 and $215, respectively.

Question 9

How far ahead should I book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, you should look to book at least 82 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

Question 10

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of $254). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in June is currently the most expensive (average of $440). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

Question 11

What is the cheapest day to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Melbourne Airport to Cairns flight should consider departing on Wednesday at midday when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Question 12

Weekly flight availability from Melbourne Airport to Cairns

Accepted Answer

The most flights from MEL to CNS are scheduled on a Thursday (31 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (18 on average).

Question 13

E

Accepted Answer

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Cairns ranges from 20.0 - 430.0 inches per month. March is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 430.0 mm. July is typically the driest time to visit Cairns when rainfall is around 20.0 mm.

Question 14

E

Accepted Answer

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Cairns, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 27.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 21.0 C).

Question 15

What are the cheapest flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

On average you can expect to pay $1,233 for a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. The cheapest flight overall is $108 while the most popular route, (Melbourne - Cairns) is currently priced at $246.

Question 16

What are the most reliable airlines from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns are China Southern (80%), Singapore Airlines (78%) and Qatar Airways (76%).

Question 17

What are the most popular airlines that fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

When booking a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, you may want to consider flying on Jetstar, Virgin Australia or Qantas Airways as they are the most popular for this route.

Question 18

Where are the most common stopover locations when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights have a stopover in Brisbane most often.

Question 19

Where are the least popular stopover locations for Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights?

Accepted Answer

The least popular stopover on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns is Sydney.

Question 20

What are some popular things to do or see while on a stopover in Brisbane?

Accepted Answer

If you're on a stopover in Brisbane and looking for things to do, consider visiting Roma Street Parkland, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, or St. John's Anglican Cathedral. Roma Street Parkland, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and St. John's Anglican Cathedral are located about 12.6 km, 13.5 km, and 11.9 km, respectively from Brisbane if you are interested in checking them out. Travellers in need of a car in Brisbane can hire one for about $57 per day.

Question 21

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from MEL to CNS?

Accepted Answer

Unlike in the morning, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 29% on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the evening.

Question 22

What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns from Melbourne?

Accepted Answer

If you book a flight to Cairns from Melbourne, you will be flying to Cairns, which is the city’s only airport. Cairns (CNS) is located 4.4 km from the centre of Cairns. There are 23 flights from Melbourne to Cairns per day from 3 different airlines.

Question 23

Can I find deals for flights from Melbourne to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In addition to deals on Melbourne to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

Question 24

How can I find direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns.

Question 25

Can I find deals for business class flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

Question 26

How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Cheapflights goes through 900+ travel sites to look for the best flight deals for flights from Melbourne to Cairns. Too many options? Cheapflights also provides filters for things like airlines, price ranges, and number of stops to help you make a decision easily.

Question 27

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Melbourne to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Millions of users choose and trust Cheapflights to book the best flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns for free. We help you search and compare prices from hundreds of airlines for the right flight just for you.

Question 28

Can Cheapflights find flights from Melbourne to Cairns with no change fees?

Accepted Answer

Cheapflights does show flights with no change fees to all users. To see these options for flights from Melbourne to Cairns, users can toggle the no change fees filter when performing a flight search.

Question 29

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Melbourne to Cairns become cheaper?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Cheapflights offers price alerts on Melbourne to Cairns flights so you can book your travel at the perfect time. Price Alerts can be enabled by clicking the bell icon next to the flight deals above and providing your email address where you want to receive the alerts.

Round-trip from	$240
One-way from	$130
Popular in	June
Cheapest in	February
Average price	$375
Good round-trip deal	$264 or less
Good one-way deal	$167 or less

Airline	Cheapest	Average	Flexibility	On-time
Jetstar	Cheapest$126	Average$305	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time74%	Search Jetstar flights
Virgin Australia	Cheapest$164	Average$363	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time80%	Search Virgin Australia flights
Qantas Airways	Cheapest$215	Average$566	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time74%	Search Qantas Airways flights

Cheap flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns from $130

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 22/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.

Cheap flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns

Cheapest flights from Melbourne to CairnsExplore the most affordable flight options available from Melbourne to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 16 July 2026.

Explore the most affordable flight options available from Melbourne to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 16 July 2026.

Best flights from Melbourne to CairnsDiscover carefully curated flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Discover carefully curated flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Direct flights from Melbourne to CairnsExplore direct flight options from Melbourne to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Explore direct flight options from Melbourne to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Last-minute flights from Melbourne to CairnsDiscover last-minute flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns. Data last updated 16 July 2026 and is based on user searches.

Discover last-minute flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns. Data last updated 16 July 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Melbourne to CairnsSearch for one-way flight options from Melbourne to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Search for one-way flight options from Melbourne to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

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Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns that are best for you.

Best time to book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from Melbourne with our price prediction graph.

Cheapflights Insights

How far ahead should I book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, you should look to book at least 82 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from MEL to CNS?

Unlike in the morning, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 29% on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the evening.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Melbourne Airport to Cairns flight should consider departing on Wednesday at midday when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

How much does it cost for a return flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Weekly flight availability from Melbourne Airport to Cairns

The most flights from MEL to CNS are scheduled on a Thursday (31 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (18 on average).

How often are flights from Melbourne to Cairns delayed?

About 18% of weekly flights between Melbourne and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 106 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Melbourne to Cairns flights?

Historically, flights departing at night are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the early afternoon tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Saturday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Wednesday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Melbourne to Cairns flights?

Over the past year, Qantas Airways have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 12% of flights being delayed.

Reviews of airlines servicing Cairns

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cairns. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Cairns. Reviews last updated 16 July 2026.

Read reviews from past customers who have flown with Virgin Australia,Qantas Airways, andJetstar from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Related info for your journey

What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns from Melbourne?

How long is the flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

What are the cheapest airlines flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns round-trip?

What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns one-way?

What are the most reliable airlines from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

What are the cheapest flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Where are the most common stopover locations when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

What are some popular things to do or see while on a stopover in Brisbane?

Where are the least popular stopover locations for Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights?

Can I find deals for flights from Melbourne to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

How can I find direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

Can I find deals for business class flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

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Fly from Melbourne to Cairns on these airlines

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Alternative routes for Melbourne to Cairns

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Other flights to Cairns

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Complete your trip

Complete your trip to Cairns by adding a car hire and/or hotel booking to your travel itinerary.

Direct flights to Queensland

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Search flights from Melbourne to Cairns by cabin class

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Melbourne and Cairns flights

Browse other Melbourne and Cairns flight options. Last updated on 16 July 2026.

Other flights from Melbourne

Browse through other flights departing from Melbourne. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 16 July 2026.

Cheapest flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Melbourne to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 16 July 2026.

Best flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Explore direct flight options from Melbourne to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 16 July 2026.

Last-minute flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover last-minute flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns. Data last updated 16 July 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Search for one-way flight options from Melbourne to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 16 July 2026.